SLBL League champs to receive Rs. 1m
SLBL will hopefully help basketball reach professional status - File pic
A cash award of Rs. 1 million will be on offer for the winner of the inaugural Men’s Franchise SLBL Sri Lanka Basketball League which will commence on May 2. The Mobitel sponsored event will be conducted by the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation and the first-round matches will be worked off at the Sugathadasa Stadium and at the Air Force SC Indoor Stadium in Colombo 7.
A total of six Franchise Teams will contest the league and over 60 players will be selected via an auction to these Franchise Teams. Current basketball players meeting minimum representative criteria of participating in one of the recently concluded Senior Nationals, Mercantile League A Division, and Colombo Super League A Division will be eligible for application.
However, any player who does not fall in to these categories could apply via their SLBF affiliated associations and basketball clubs. This event will feature Sri Lanka’s finest basketball talent including future stars from the age groups of 18 to 23 years. The final is scheduled to be played during the second week of June at the Sugathadasa Stadium in Colombo.
“A professional league was highly due to recognise and remunerate talent and plan is to bring the best basketball players in Sri Lanka, every year, together to compete for the SLBL Championship,” said Chandana Liyanage Vice-President SLBF.
Sri Lanka Basketball proudly completes 102 years of basketball and also believes that has provided many social benefits during these long years generating communities, fostering friendships and reducing anti-social behaviour. With a strong community base of 12,000 island wide and 126 schools actively participating in the sport, basketball in Sri Lanka has found its lost glory becoming one of the fastest growing sports in Sri Lanka.
With recent development success in the shorter format ‘3×3 basketball’ secured a World Cup spot in 2016 being one of the only Olympic Team sport to represent Sri Lanka in a World Cup. The Under-18 Boys’ Team defeated Asian heavyweights Japan and the Girls’ Team qualified for the Asia Cup Championship. Further clarifications in connection to the tournament could be obtained from Chandana Liyanage on telephone: 0769649923 or Paul Newmen on 0773960174.